Welcome back to the Underground Bookshelf Book Club! During the month of May, we are reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. This book tells the story of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan followed by the reign of the Taliban and the subsequent, post-Taliban life through the personal lives and relationships of everyday people. This book has faced book bans because of its discussions of violence, war, abuse, suicide, and depression. It's important to note that the author is not condoning violence, war, and abuse or glorifying suicide, rather he is acknowledging its presence in the lives of the people his characters represent.
If you are having trouble finding this book in your area, it is available for free through InternetArchive or you can use LibraryLink to search for this book at a library near you. You might also like to check Thriftbooks if you are looking for a second-hand copy.
Discussion Prompt 1:
Welcome back to the Underground Bookshelf Book Club. During the month of May, we are reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. This week's discussion question comes from Books That Slay. The prompt is as follows:
"The relationships between mothers and daughters in the novel are complex and shape the characters’ development perfectly. Mariam’s relationship with her mother, Nana, is strained but contains elements of love and dependency. Nana’s bitterness and warnings impact Mariam’s worldview, contributing to her sense of self-worth. Laila and Fariba’s relationship is marked by distance and lack of understanding, with Fariba’s grief creating a divide between them. Discuss how these mother-daughter dynamics play a crucial role in the character’s choices and their journeys throughout the story."
Discussion Prompt 2:
Welcome back to the Underground Bookshelf Book Club. During the month of May, we are reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. This week's discussion question comes from Books That Slay. The prompt is as follows:
"Despite the bleak circumstances they face, Mariam and Laila cling to hope for a brighter future. Their hope is often rooted in their love for their children and their desire to protect them from the harsh realities of their world. Hope becomes a driving force that empower them to make difficult choices and seek a better life, even in the face of immense suffering. Discuss how during difficult times, it is hope itself that helps us survive, as in the above context. Also, do you have any personal stories of how being hopeful saved your day?"
Discussion Prompt 3:
Welcome back to the Underground Bookshelf Book Club. During the month of May, we are reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. This week's discussion question comes from Reading Group Guides. The prompt is as follows:
"The phrase “a thousand splendid suns,” from the poem by Saib-e-Tabrizi, is quoted twice in the novel – once as Laila’s family prepares to leave Kabul, and again when she decides to return there from Pakistan. It is also echoed in one of the final lines: “Miriam is in Laila’s own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns.” Discuss the thematic significance of this phrase."
Discussion Prompt 4:
Welcome back to the Underground Bookshelf Book Club. During the month of May, we are reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. This week's discussion question comes from Reading Group Guides. The prompt is as follows:
"The driver who takes Babi, Laila, and Tariq to the giant stone Buddhas above the Bamiyan Valley describes the crumbling fortress of Shahr-e-Zohak as “the story of our country, one invader after another… we’re like those walls up there. Battered, and nothing pretty to look at, but still standing.” Discuss the metaphorical import of this passage as it relates to Miriam and Laila. In what ways does their story reflect the larger story of Afghanistan’s troubled history?"
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